Container for Dispensing Products

ABSTRACT

A container including walls that define a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the container body defining an internal volume and including a first tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein the first tear-away portion is removable from the container body to form an access opening, and a second tear-away portion connected to the first tear-away portion, wherein the second tear-away portion is removable from the container body to extend the access opening toward the rear end when the first tear-away portion is removed from the container body.

FIELD

This application relates to product dispensing and, more particularly, to containers for dispensing products.

BACKGROUND

Products are typically shipped to retailers in bulk by enclosing multiple individual product units in a container such as a carton or box. For example, wet pet foods may be shipped to a retailer in a shipping container, such as a box, housing multiple product units (e.g., cups, trays or cans). Then, a stock clerk typically removes the product units from the shipping container and stacks them on a display unit, such as a shelf, thereby making the products available to consumers.

The process of removing products from shipping containers and stacking the products on a shelf can be quite time consuming. Specifically, the traditional package-ship-unpack-display model requires a stock clerk to obtain a package from the supplier, open the package, remove all of the product units from the open package, and stack each of the product units on a display, such as a shelf. In the case of small, high volume products, such as wet pet foods, the amount of time required to neatly stock a display can become extensive, thereby significantly increasing a retailer's overall operating expenses.

As an alternative to the traditional package-ship-unpack-display model, products are being packaged in containers that also function as product dispensers. For example, packaging containers have been developed that include tear-away seals that, when removed, provide an opening into the container. Therefore, a store clerk is simply required to remove the tear-away seal to form the opening and then place the open container on the display. Consumers may then retrieve products from the container through the opening.

Despite advances already made, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of product dispensing.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the disclosed container may include a plurality of walls that define a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the container body defining an internal volume and including a first tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein the first tear-away portion is removable from the container body to form an access opening, and a second tear-away portion connected to the first tear-away portion, wherein the second tear-away portion is removable from the container body to extend the access opening toward the rear end when the first tear-away portion is removed from the container body.

In another embodiment, the disclosed container may include a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, the container body including a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall, a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, and a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall, wherein the container body defines a first tear-away portion proximate the front end, wherein the first tear-away portion includes portions of the front, upper, first side and second side walls, wherein the container body further defines a second tear-away portion connected to the first tear-away portion, the second tear-away portion including a portion of the upper wall, and wherein the container body further defines a third tear-away portion including portions of the rear and base walls.

Other embodiments of the disclosed container for dispensing products will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of one embodiment of the disclosed container for dispensing products;

FIG. 2 is a rear and side perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front and side perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a first open configuration;

FIG. 5 is a front and side perspective view of the container of FIG. 4 in a second open configuration;

FIG. 6 is a rear and side perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 in a third open configuration (shown without products);

FIG. 7 is a rear and side perspective view of the container of FIG. 6 positioned on a product biasing assembly; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a container blank that may be used to form the container of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the disclosed container for dispensing products, generally designated 10, may include a plurality of walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 that define a container body 11 having an internal volume 24. A plurality of products 26 (FIG. 3) may be housed (at least initially) within the internal volume 24 of the container body 11.

A wide variety of products 26 may be packaged in, and dispensed from, the container 10. As one example, the products 26 may be various foodstuffs packaged in boxes, cartons, trays, pouches, cans or bottles. As another example, the products 26 may be various consumer goods, and may or may not be individually contained in a package, such as a box, carton, clamshell, pouch or the like.

In one particularly construction, the container 10 include a generally rectilinear container body 11. Opposed walls 12 and 14 may define the front and rear walls, respectively, of the container body 11. Opposed walls 16 and 18 may define the first (e.g., left) and second (e.g., right) side walls, respectively, of the container body 11. Opposed walls 20 and 22 may define the base and upper walls, respectively, of the container body 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front wall 12 may be positioned proximate (i.e., at or near) the front end 28 of the container body 11 and the rear wall 14 may be positioned proximate the rear end 30 of the container body 11. The front end 28 of the container body 11 may be spaced from the rear end 30 along a longitudinal axis A.

The products 26 may be received in the internal volume 24 of the container body 11, and may be longitudinally arranged in a row between the front and rear ends 28, 30 of the container body 11. In one alternative expression, two or more rows of product 26 may be arranged in the container body 11. In another alternative expression, the products 26 may be arranged in the container body 11 other than in rows, such as in a staggered (e.g., zig-zag) pattern or randomly.

Optionally, one or more walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 of the container 10, particularly the exterior surface of the walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, may be marked with indicia 32 (FIG. 1), such as printed text and/or graphics. For example, the indicia 32 may be indicative of the products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 of the container 10.

The container 10 may include a first tear-away portion 34 (see FIGS. 1-3), a second tear-away portion 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), and a third tear-away portion 38 (see FIG. 2). The container 10 may include additional tear-away portions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The first tear-away portion 34 may be positioned proximate the front end 28 of the container 10, and may be defined by pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. Pre-formed tear line 40 may laterally extend across the upper wall 22 of the container 10 (e.g., from proximate the left side wall 16 to proximate the right side wall 18), and may be longitudinally spaced from the front wall 12 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 42 may laterally extend across the front wall 12 of the container 10 (e.g., from proximate the left side wall 16 to proximate the right side wall 18), and may be vertically spaced from the upper wall 22 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 44 may be formed in the left side wall 16 of the container 10, and may be an arcuate line extending from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear line 42. Pre-formed tear line 46 may be formed in the right side wall 18 of the container 10, and may be an arcuate line extending from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear line 42.

The pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 may be formed by weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. For example, the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 may be formed by perforating, scoring or creasing the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46, though other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In one particular implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46 may have a tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow manual separation of the first tear-away portion 34 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first tear-away portion 34 may be separated from the container 10 to define an access opening 48 proximate the front end 28 of the container 10. The access opening 48 may provide access to the internal volume 24 of the container 10, and may be formed in the front 12, left side 16, right side 18 and upper 22 walls of the container 10. The access opening 48 may be sized and shaped to allow products 26 to pass therethrough. Therefore, the access opening 48 may provide consumers with access to the products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 proximate the front end 28 of the container 10.

The access opening 48 may be formed by separating (e.g., manually tearing) the first tear-away portion 34 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 40, 42, 44, 46. An optional punch tab 50 may be provided adjacent pre-formed tear line 40 to initiate separation of the first tear-away portion 34.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the second tear-away portion 36 may be positioned adjacent to the first tear-away portion 34. The second tear-away portion 36 may be defined by pre-formed tear line 40 (discussed above), as well as pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56.

Pre-formed tear line 52 may generally laterally extend across the upper wall 22 of the container 10 (e.g., from proximate the left side wall 16 to proximate the right side wall 18), and may be longitudinally spaced a distance D (FIG. 1) from pre-formed tear line 40. The distance D may be at least 25 percent (e.g., at least 50 percent; at least 70 percent; at least 80 percent) of the overall longitudinal length of the container 10. Optionally, the ends 58, 60 of pre-formed tear line 52 may be angled toward the front end 28 of the container 10.

Pre-formed tear line 54 may generally longitudinally extend from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear line 52. Pre-formed tear line 54 may extend proximate the edge 62 between the left side wall 16 and the upper wall 22. In one alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 54 may be formed entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10. In another alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 54 may be formed entirely within the left side wall 16 of the container 10.

Pre-formed tear line 56 may be laterally spaced from pre-formed tear line 54, and may generally longitudinally extend from proximate pre-formed tear line 40 to proximate pre-formed tear line 52. Pre-formed tear line 55 may extend proximate the edge 64 between the right side wall 18 and the upper wall 22. In one alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 56 may be formed entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10. In another alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 56 may be formed entirely within the right side wall 18 of the container 10.

The pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 may be formed by weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56. For example, the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 may be formed by perforating, scoring or creasing the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56, though other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In one particular implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56 may have a tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow manual separation of the second tear-away portion 36 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second tear-away portion 36 may be separated from the container 10 to extend the access opening 48′ toward the rear end 30 of the container 10. Therefore, with the first and second tear-away portions 34, 36 separated and removed from the container 10, the container 10 may function as a tray, thereby providing consumers with access to most (in not all) of the products 26 housed in the container 10 (as opposed to only the products 26 accessible through the smaller access opening 48 shown in FIG. 4).

The extended access opening 48′ (FIG. 5) may be formed by separating (e.g., manually tearing) the second tear-away portion 36 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 52, 54, 56. An optional punch tab 66 may be provided adjacent pre-formed tear line 52 to initiate separation of the second tear-away portion 36.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the third tear-away portion 38 may be formed at least in the rear 14 and base 20 walls of the container 10. The third tear-away portion 38 may be defined by pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74.

Pre-formed tear line 70 may include a first portion 70A that longitudinally extend along the base wall 20 of the container 10 and a second portion 70B that vertically extends along the rear wall 14 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 70 may be spaced laterally inward from the left side wall 16 of the container 10.

Pre-formed tear line 72 may include a first portion 72A that longitudinally extend along the base wall 20 of the container 10 and a second portion 72B that vertically extends along the rear wall 14 of the container 10. Pre-formed tear line 72 may be spaced laterally inward from the right side wall 18 of the container 10.

Pre-formed tear line 74 may laterally extend between the second portion 70B of pre-formed tear line 70 and the second portion 72B of pre-formed tear line 72. Pre-formed tear line 74 may extend proximate the edge 76 between the rear wall 14 and the upper wall 22. In one alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 74 may be formed entirely within the rear wall 14 of the container 10. In another alternative variation, pre-formed tear line 74 may be formed entirely within the upper wall 22 of the container 10.

An initiation opening 78 may be formed in the base wall 20 of the container 10 proximate the front wall 12. The initiation opening 78 may laterally extend between the front end 80 of the first portion 70A of pre-formed tear line 70 and the front end 82 of the first portion 72A of pre-formed tear line 72. Therefore, the initiation opening may expose a free edge 84 of the third tear-away portion 38.

As an alternative to the initiation opening 78, an additional pre-formed tear line (not shown) may laterally extend between the front end 80 of the first portion 70A of pre-formed tear line 70 and the front end 82 of the first portion 72A of pre-formed tear line 72.

The pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 may be formed by weakening the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 to facilitate separation (e.g., tearing) along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74. For example, the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 may be formed by perforating, scoring or creasing the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74, though other weakening techniques are also contemplated. In one particular implementation, the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 may have a tear strength that is sufficiently low to allow manual separation of the third tear-away portion 38 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74.

Referring to FIG. 6, the third tear-away portion 38 may be separated from the container 10 to define an engagement opening 86 in the container 10. The engagement opening 86 may provide access to the internal volume 24 of the container 10, and may include an opening 88 in the rear wall 14 of the container 10 and an elongated channel 90 longitudinally extending through the base wall 20 of the container 10. The engagement opening 86 may be continuous from the opening 88 to the elongated channel 90.

The engagement opening 86 may be formed by separating (e.g., manually tearing) the third tear-away portion 38 from the container 10 along the pre-formed tear lines 70, 72, 74 (FIG. 2). Separation of the third tear-away portion 38 may be initiated by applying a downward pulling force to the free edge 84 of the third tear-away portion 38 by way of the initiation opening 78.

As shown in FIG. 7, the engagement opening 86 may accommodate a product biasing assembly 100. The product biasing assembly 100 may include a rail 102, a moveable member 104 and a biasing element (not shown), such as a spring. The moveable member 104 may be a sled or the like, and may be slidably engaged with the rail 102. The biasing element may urge the moveable member 104 through the engagement opening 86 in the container 10 to urge the products 26 housed in the internal volume 24 of the container 10 toward the front end 28 of the container 10.

Product biasing assemblies are described in greater detail in U.S. Ser. No. 13/049,004 filed on Mar. 16, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The disclosed container 10 may be formed from a container blank, such as the container blank 200 shown in FIG. 8. The container blank 200 may be folded, loaded with products 26, and sealed (e.g., with adhesives and/or heat) to from the container 10 shown in FIG. 1.

The container blank 200 may be die-cut from a sheet of stock material. Examples of suitable stock materials include paperboard, such as coated paperboard (e.g., C1S or C2S) or uncoated paperboard, and corrugated board. Non-cellulose based materials may also be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Accordingly, the disclosed container 10 may be used with a product biasing assembly, such as the product biasing assembly 100 shown in FIG. 7. However, when no product biasing assembly is available, the disclosed container 10 may be used as a standalone dispenser, as shown in FIG. 4, or as a standalone tray, as shown in FIG. 5.

Although various embodiments of the disclosed product biasing and dispensing system with security engagement have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container comprising: a plurality of walls that define a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, said container body defining an internal volume and comprising: a first tear-away portion proximate said front end, wherein said first tear-away portion is removable from said container body to form an access opening; a second tear-away portion connected to said first tear-away portion, wherein said second tear-away portion is removable from said container body to extend said access opening toward said rear end when said first tear-away portion is removed from said container body; and a third tear-away portion comprising a first portion proximate said rear end longitudinally opposed from said first tear-away portion and a second portion extending toward said front end vertically opposed from said second tear-away portion, wherein said third tear-away portion is removable from said container body to form an engagement opening.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls comprise a plurality of pre-formed tear lines, and wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines define said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion, and said third tear-away portion.
 3. The container of claim 2 wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines comprise perforations.
 4. The container of claim 2 wherein said plurality of pre-formed tear lines are score lines.
 5. The container of claim 1 wherein said first tear-away portion is connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed tear line.
 6. The container of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of products received in said internal volume.
 7. The container of claim 1 wherein said plurality of walls comprise a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall, a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall, and a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall.
 8. The container of claim 7 wherein said first tear-away portion is comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall, and said second side wall.
 9. The container of claim 8 wherein said second tear-away portion is comprised of a portion of said upper wall. 10-12. (canceled)
 13. The container of claim 7 wherein said first portion is comprised of a portion of said rear wall and said second portion is comprised of a portion of said base wall.
 14. The container of claim 13 wherein said second portion is elongated along said longitudinal axis.
 15. The container of claim 13 wherein said first tear-away portion is comprised of portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall, and said second side wall.
 16. The container of claim 15 wherein said second tear-away portion is comprised of a portion of said upper wall.
 17. A container comprising: a container body having a front end opposed from a rear end along a longitudinal axis, said container body comprising: a front wall longitudinally opposed from a rear wall; a first side wall laterally opposed from a second side wall; and a base wall vertically opposed from an upper wall, wherein said container body defines a first tear-away portion proximate said front end, wherein said first tear-away portion comprises portions of said front wall, said upper wall, said first side wall and said second side wall, wherein said container body further defines a second tear-away portion connected to said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion comprising a portion of said upper wall, and wherein said container body further defines a third tear-away portion comprising portions of said rear wall and said base wall.
 18. The container of claim 17 wherein said first tear-away portion, said second tear-away portion and said third tear-away portion are defined by pre-formed tear lines.
 19. The container of claim 17 wherein said first tear-away portion is connected to said second tear-away portion along a pre-formed tear line.
 20. The container of claim 17 wherein said third tear-away portion comprises a first portion proximate said rear end and a second portion that extends from said first portion toward said front end.
 21. The container of claim 6 wherein said engagement opening formed by said third tear-away portion is configured to receive a product biasing assembly configured to engage at least one product of said plurality of products and urge said plurality of products toward said access opening. 